Can’t See the Forest for the Trees

Think about this: if you look too closely at a picture, you won’t be able to see the whole picture, but the Lord sees it all.  It seems like there are people that love to judge other people and make statements that shouldn’t be made.  We should all be careful how we perceive situations and circumstances. I think all of us have sat in the ‘judge’s seat’ many times in our lives and have been wrong on many occasions.  I have heard it said, “judge not that ye be not judged,” and it sounds like wisdom to me.  I have said this in other blogs that I have written, we are our own worst enemies.

I know the Bible says, “you will know them by their fruit.”  Once we learn that many of us become fruit inspectors.  If that is all we do, we will find a problem somewhere because we are all flawed people, none of us are perfect.

Please read Romans 2:1-11, “Therefore you are without excuse, O man—every one of you who is judging. For by whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. We know that God’s judgment on those who practice such things is based on truth. But you, O man—judging those practicing such things yet doing the same—do you suppose that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you belittle the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience—not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? But by your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. He will pay back each person according to his deeds. To those who by perseverance in doing good are seeking glory, honor, and immortality—eternal life. But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—wrath and fury. There will be trouble and hardship for every human soul that does evil—to the Jew first and also to the Greek. But there will be glory, honor, and shalom to everyone who does good—to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.”

Now please read Romans 14:4, “Who are you to judge another’s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. Yes, he shall stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”     

Think about this, what would you honestly think if a man walked into your church building with dirty, grubby, stinky clothes on or if a woman who was dressed like a prostitute walked in?  Really think about it.  If you went to someone’s house that claimed to be a believer and they were drinking beer or wine with their lunch or dinner, what would you think?  Would you judge them and say that they cannot be a Christian?  It is so easy for us to jump on the band wagon and start judging people.  Looking down our noses at other’s faults is so easy.  Remember this, it is easy to point the finger at others, but be careful, because we may see someone pointing three or four or more back at us.

Now please read Matthew 7:1-5, “Stop judging, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the beam in your own eye? Or how will you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the beam is in your own eye? Hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”   

I think the best thing to do is to let God do the judging, there is nothing He doesn’t know!!  Enough said, my prayer is that this has been a help and encouragement and a blessing to everyone who reads this.  May you and yours have a super day and may the good Lord bless you with His perfect peace, love and joy and health and happiness.  Today would be a good time to thank and praise the Lord, for He is worthy!!